Guest writer for Wake Up World
The quality of your life is in large
part a function of the health of your brain. From the more basic (but no
less astounding) operations of maintaining the intricate balance of the
biological network that is your body to the more sophisticated
functions of perception, awareness, imagination and thought, the brain
is central to your experience—and quality—of life.
And yet, life in our modern societies
seems to be working, in many ways, against brain health. Powerful
neurotoxins are contained in our food and emitted as gases from the
myriad of synthetic materials used in houses, cars, clothes and so on.
The bright, artificial lights of computer screens and cellphones alter
delicate circadian neurotransmitter balances by overstimulating our
optic nerves after dark. Our foods have often times been grown in
devitalized soils and then further processed and packaged, robbing our
bodies of essential vitamins and minerals—literally the fuel for our
brains.
But this article is not meant to paint a
hopeless picture or to instigate any kind of fear and worry—far from
it. In fact, it’s never been easier to fine tune your brain function and
bring it to extraordinary heights of health and wellness despite all
these otherwise challenge circumstances. Advances in the holistic
sciences coupled with the widespread availability of ‘superfoods’,
medicinal plants, natural medicines, organic agriculture (in most areas
of the world) and technologies for countering the negative impacts of
synthetic influences of modern society allow virtually anyone with the
knowledge and desire to optimize their brain health to do so.
Ironically, however, many of the
substances that offer the greatest benefit for the health of our brains
are ancient herbal medicines. And while these plants have been known as
brain enhancers anecdotally for millennia, modern science has, in fact,
been able to verify that indeed these herbs have powerful
brain-enhancing effects in a number of fascinating ways.
From actually increasing intelligence to
improving memory, tissue oxygenation and even regrowing neuronal
connections, these four superstar herbs are in a class of their own when
it comes to improving brain function and creating lasting neurological
health.
Gotu Kola
Revered by Daoist masters and Yogis for
thousands of years as a powerful longevity boosting herb, it comes as no
surprise that Gotu Kola is one of the master plants on the planet for
improving brain health. Gotu Kola has been shown in animal and human
studies to increase brain cell dendrite outgrowth [1,3], meaning that it
increases the neural axonal density of the brain, which has been
correlated with increased intelligence and enhanced intracellular
communication. Extracts of the plant have also been shown to repair
damaged neurons and promote growth of new neural networks [2,3]. Studies
of children fed Gotu Kola over long-term time horizons showed
measurable changes in IQ and general intelligence markers [4]. It is
also believed to facilitate enhanced communication between brain
hemispheres, which has been shown to stimulate greater creativity and
lead to an increase in the occurrence of positive brainwave states
(alpha, theta and gamma in particular) [5].
However, as amazing as all this is, it’s
really only the tip of the iceberg. Gotu Kola has a number of other
highly beneficial effects on the body and mind that are outside the
scope of this article but that you can read about if you are interested
here: consciouslifestylemag.com/gotu-kola-benefits-of-the-herb-of-enlightenment
Lion’s Mane
Lion’s Mane is a medicinal mushroom that
has been used for thousands of years throughout Asia as a powerful
natural medicine. In recent studies conducted by Japanese Dr. Hirokazu
Kawagishi, it was discovered that the mushroom stimulates the synthesis
of a very unique and important compound known as nerve growth factor
(NGF).
Nerve growth factor is a bioprotein that
plays a critical role in the maintenance, health and regeneration of
neurons in the brain and body [6]. A lack of NGF is considered one of
the major causes of Alzheimer’s and other degenerative brain diseases.
NGF is required by the brain and important sensory neurons located
throughout the body to keep the entire nervous system strong, robust and
healthy [7]. NGF is also known to stimulate new neuron growth in the
central and peripheral nervous systems. NGF is the primary protein
nutrient responsible for enhancing and repairing neurological disorders
and literally rebuilding the nerve network in the brain and the body
from the inside out [8].
The various compounds found in the
Lion’s Mane mushroom mycelium are some of the most powerful NGF inducers
of all natural compounds known to man. These compounds allow the NGF in
Lion’s Mane to actually pass through the blood-brain barrier to
encourage the production of new neurons within the brain itself, which
is typically not possible due to the myelination of nerve fibers [9].
If that wasn’t enough, Lion’s Mane has
also been shown to reduce amyloid plaques that interfere with brain
neurotransmission [10]. Essentially, amyloid plaques are clumps of
proteins, which form in the fatty membrane surrounding nerve cells. As
they break off, they can end up interfering with the signals between
cells, which is believed by researchers to play a role in the formation
of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s.
Gingko Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba has been traced back
nearly 300 million years, making it the oldest surviving tree species on
the planet. Ingesting this primal tree’s leaves confers many biological
benefits, but perhaps some of its most important are its effects on the
mind. Animal studies have shown Ginkgo to boost stem cell production in
the brain, which has been shown to have positive effects on memory and
cognition, as well as promote general rejuvenation and repair [11]. In
addition to its remarkable effects on stem cells, Gingko also stimulates
neurotransmitter production [12] and has been useful for treating
brain-related conditions such as memory loss, concentration problems,
mental confusion, depression, anxiety, dizziness, tinnitus, and
headache.
Its effects are at least in part related
to its ability to increase blood flow and oxygenation to various parts
of the body, most notably the brain [12]. However Gingko has also been
used to treat asthma, bronchitis, fatigue, bladder irritation, low
libido, intestinal parasites, and gonorrhea, among other things, making
it one of the foremost medicinal herbs on the planet.
Bacopa
Often referred to by the traditional
Sanskrit name of ‘Brahmi’ (which loosely translates to ‘sacred’), Bacopa
lives up to its reputation in every sense of the word—literally being
one of the most revered medicinal plants in the ancient Ayurvedic system
of medicine. Recent studies on Bacopa demonstrated that the herb is
responsible for stimulating enhanced synaptic communication (the
communication between brain cells and neurons) [13,14], which, in
addition to its other amazing properties, confirmed the plant’s long
standing reputation as a legendary brain tonic. Bacopa also stimulates
serotonin production and reduces the rate of decomposition of dopamine,
which gives it powerful mood-boosting, stress- and anxiety-reducing
effects [14]. It also contains a powerful enzyme known as Tryptophan
Hydroxylase that improves memory, fact recall and the assimilation and
learning of new information and data [13,14].
Moreover, Bacopa is an adaptogenic herb,
which means it works to bring the body into balance. Many people with
anxiety or who are stressed out report that it calms them down and
inversely those with chronic fatigue often report it gives them energy.
This makes it a safe and balancing addition to any brain health regimen.
Final Thoughts
While all of these herbs are amazing and
powerful in their own right, it’s recommended that you start with one
at a time to understand how your brain and body react and to also give
your system time to calibrate and adjust. Starting a protocol with
multiple herbs at once, while in general safe, makes it more difficult
to discern what plants are having what effects.
Article References Final Thoughts
While all of these herbs are amazing and
powerful in their own right, it’s recommended that you start with one
at a time to understand how your brain and body react and to also give
your system time to calibrate and adjust. Starting a protocol with
multiple herbs at once, while in general safe, makes it more difficult
to discern what plants are having what effects.
Article References [1] Veerendra Kumar MH, Gupta YK. Effect of different extracts of Centella asiatica on cognition and markers of oxidative stress in rats. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Feb;79(2):253-60.
[2] Rao SB, Chetana M, Uma Devi P. Centella asiatica treatment during postnatal period enhances learning and memory in mice. Physiol Behav. 2005 Nov 15;86(4):449-57.
[3] Soumyanath A, Zhong YP, Gold SA, Yu X, Koop DR, Bourdette D, Gold BG. Centella asiatica accelerates nerve regeneration upon oral administration and contains multiple fractions increasing neurite elongation in-vitro. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2005 Sept;57(9):1221-9.
[4] M.V.R. Appa Rao, et. al, The Effect of Mandookaparni (Centella Asiatica) on the General Mental Ability (Medhya) of Mentally Retarded Children, Journal of Indian Medicine (August 25, 1973), p.9-12.
[5] Leviton R. Brain Builders!, A Lifelong Guide to Sharper Thinking, Better Memory, and an Ageproof Mind. Penguin; 1995.
[6] Lai PL, Naidu M, Sabaratnam V, et al. Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(6):539-54.
[7] Kawagishi, H, et al “The Inducer of the Synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor from Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceum)” Explore! Vol. 11, No. 4, 2002.
[8] Nagai, K. et al “Dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine from Hericium erinaceum protects against ER stress-induced Neuro2a cell death via protein kinase C pathway.” J Nutr Biochem, 17 (2006) 525-530.
[9] Mori, K et al “Improving Effects of the Mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceum) on Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Double-blind Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.” Phytother Res, 23, 367-372 (2009).
[10] Kawagishi, H et al “Anti-dementia effects of a low polarity fraction extracted from Hericium erinaceum.” Abstracts of the 5th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference, p. 18-19, September 5th – 8th, 2009, Nantong, China.
[11] Wang J, Chen W, Wang Y. A ginkgo biloba extract promotes proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in vascular dementia rats. Neural Regen Res. 2013;8(18):1655-62.
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